Numbers in Tsonga



Learn numbers in Tsonga

Knowing numbers in Tsonga is probably one of the most useful things you can learn to say, write and understand in Tsonga. Learning to count in Tsonga may appeal to you just as a simple curiosity or be something you really need. Perhaps you have planned a trip to a country where Tsonga is the most widely spoken language, and you want to be able to shop and even bargain with a good knowledge of numbers in Tsonga.

It's also useful for guiding you through street numbers. You'll be able to better understand the directions to places and everything expressed in numbers, such as the times when public transportation leaves. Can you think of more reasons to learn numbers in Tsonga?

The Tsonga language (Xitsonga) belongs to the Niger–Congo languages family, and more specifically to the Bantu branch. It is official in South Africa (where it is co-oficial with ten other languages), and in Zimbabwe, where it is co-official with fifteen other languages, and known as Shangani. Tsonga counts about 12 millions speakers.

List of numbers in Tsonga

Here is a list of numbers in Tsonga. We have made for you a list with all the numbers in Tsonga from 1 to 20. We have also included the tens up to the number 100, so that you know how to count up to 100 in Tsonga. We also close the list by showing you what the number 1000 looks like in Tsonga.

• 1) n’we
• 2) mbirhi
• 3) nharhu
• 4) mune
• 5) ntlhanu
• 6) ntsevu
• 7) nkombo
• 8) nhungu
• 9) nkaye
• 10) khume
• 11) khume n’we
• 12) khume mbirhi
• 13) khume nharhu
• 14) khume mune
• 15) khume ntlhanu
• 16) khume ntsevu
• 17) khume nkombo
• 18) khume nhungu
• 19) khume nkaye
• 20) makume mbirhi
• 30) makume nharhu
• 40) makume mune
• 50) makume ntlhanu
• 60) makume ntsevu
• 70) makume nkombo
• 80) makume nhungu
• 90) makume nkaye
• 100) dzana
• 1,000) gidi
• one million) gidi ya magidi

Numbers in Tsonga: Tsonga numbering rules

Each culture has specific peculiarities that are expressed in its language and its way of counting. The Tsonga is no exception. If you want to learn numbers in Tsonga you will have to learn a series of rules that we will explain below. If you apply these rules you will soon find that you will be able to count in Tsonga with ease.

The way numbers are formed in Tsonga is easy to understand if you follow the rules explained here. Surprise everyone by counting in Tsonga. Also, learning how to number in Tsonga yourself from these simple rules is very beneficial for your brain, as it forces it to work and stay in shape. Working with numbers and a foreign language like Tsonga at the same time is one of the best ways to train our little gray cells, so let's see what rules you need to apply to number in Tsonga

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Digits from zero to nine are rendered by specific words: noto [0], n’we [1], mbirhi [2], nharhu [3], mune [4], ntlhanu [5], ntsevu [6], nkombo [7], nhungu [8], and nkaye [9].

The tens are formed by stating the plural form of the word for ten (makume, khume in singular), then the multiplier digit, except for ten itself: khume [10], makume mbirhi [20], makume nharhu [30], makume mune [40], makume ntlhanu [50], makume ntsevu [60], makume nkombo [70], makume nhungu [80], and makume nkaye [90].

Compound numbers are formed by stating the ten, then the unit separated with a space (e.g.: makume mune mune [44], makume nkombo mbirhi [72]).

Hundreds are formed by stating the plural form of the word for hundred (madzana, dzana in singular), then the multiplier digit, except for one hundred: dzana [100], madzana mbirhi [200], madzana nharhu [300], madzana mune [400], madzana ntlhanu [500], madzana ntsevu [600], madzana nkombo [700], madzana nhungu [800], and madzana nkaye [900].

Thousands are formed by stating the plural form of the word for thousand (magidi, gidi in singular), then the multiplier digit, except for one thousand: gidi [1,000], magidi mbirhi [2,000], magidi nharhu [3,000], magidi mune [4,000], magidi ntlhanu [5,000], magidi ntsevu [6,000], magidi nkombo [7,000], magidi nhungu [8,000], and magidi nkaye [9,000].

Compound numbers with hundreds or thousands are formed in a regular way (e.g.: dzana makume mune mbirhi [142], magidi mbirhi madzana mbirhi makume mbirhi mbirhi [2,222]).

The expression for million is gidi ya magidi, litterally a thousand thousands, and magidi ya magidi in plural. Higher scale numbers are: biliyoni, and tibiliyoni in plural (10⁹, billion), then thiriliyoni (10¹², trillion), khwadiriliyin or mamiliyoni-mune (10¹⁵, quadrillion), khwintiliyoni (10¹⁸, quintillion)…